8mi Chapter 159 Studying the Stone Tablet
Chapter 159 Studying the Stone Tablet
Chapter 159 Studying the Stone Tablet
Duden, Ella, and Gorson also gathered around. Although they didn't directly touch the stone tablet, they sensed its extraordinary nature from Rolin's reaction and the words of the High Priest Moradin.
"Is this... the thing inside that stone box that can't be opened?" Duden asked curiously, wanting to reach out and touch the box, but then hesitating.
"Don't touch it," Rowling stopped him.
"It's not that I'm wary of you, it's just that this stone slab—it's very special."
"It itself seems to be a carrier of extremely high-density information, and direct mental contact may be overwhelmed by a massive amount of information."
"I need to conduct research in a more indirect and gradual way first."
He recalled the simple geometric symbol that appeared when the slate was activated.
Unlike the rune style of the observer, it is more abstract and fundamental.
He tried to recreate that gentle, orderly energy by injecting it into the lid.
The lid was opened again, revealing the dark stone slab inside.
This time, Roland did not attempt to use his mental power to penetrate deeper into the stone slab.
Instead, they used the highest magnification microscopic imager and energy spectrum analyzer to conduct the most basic scans from the perspectives of physical structure and energy radiation.
The imaging device showed that the surface of the stone slab was so smooth that it was atomically smooth, without any trace of tool processing, as if it had grown naturally.
Material analysis shows that its elemental composition is unusually simple, mainly consisting of silicon, oxygen, and some trace amounts of unknown elements, but its arrangement structure is extremely special and incredibly stable.
Energy spectrum analysis is even more perplexing.
The stone slab itself emits almost no energy fluctuations; only when it is stimulated by specific ordered energy will the light spots and lines inside show a faint glow.
The spectra of these faint lights cover a wide range of wavelengths, from visible light to far beyond the range of conventional detection, containing so much information that the instrument almost crashed.
"This technology—is completely beyond our comprehension." Duden shook his head repeatedly as he looked at the analyzed data.
"To what extent does one need to understand the nature of matter and energy to store information in this physical form?"
"Perhaps it's not just about storage," Roland murmured, staring at the flowing milky-white halo deep within the stone slab.
"Perhaps it's a kind of compilation, compiling abstract knowledge and rules into a physical state that can be read in a specific way."
"That simple geometric symbol may be part of the most basic reading instructions or decoding key."
Over the next few days, Luo Lin devoted almost all his energy to this [Civilization Stele].
He dared not rashly use his mental power to penetrate deeper, but instead tried various methods:
Use energy of different frequencies and properties to contact and stimulate.
Use the Insight Ring to record the most subtle patterns of light and line changes on the surface of the slab when it is activated.
Try to decipher the mathematical or logical meaning that simple geometric symbol might represent.
Progress is frustratingly slow.
The information contained in this stone tablet is too advanced, and the encryption method or compilation rules are completely unknown.
It's like giving a primitive man a supercomputer, but he can't even find the power button.
On the third day, during an attempt, Rowling inadvertently mixed a wisp of spiritual energy with star power and carefully traced the trajectory of a specific point of light that flowed when the stone slab recorded by the Ring of Insight was activated.
The moment the drawing was completed, Roland felt the stone slab he was holding tremble slightly!
It's not a physical vibration, but a spiritual resonance!
Immediately afterwards, a tiny part of the hazy milky-white halo deep within the stone slab, an area about the size of a fingernail, suddenly lit up!
Immediately, a three-dimensional energy structure diagram that was much clearer than before, but still extremely abstract, along with a small string of incomprehensible but structurally regular basic symbols, was directly projected into Rolin's consciousness!
This information is too small; it may only be a drop of water in the vast ocean of information on the entire stone tablet.
But its clarity and completeness far surpass any previous blurry perception.
What made Luo Lin's heart race even faster was that after the echo unit came into contact with this clear information, it began to operate at an unprecedented high speed and attempt to interpret it!
Based on a wealth of previously accumulated information about Observer energy, fundamental runes, and even the remnants of the stellar core and the "Star Source Meditation Method"...
The understanding of order and energy gained in the Echo Unit is like the most diligent student, clumsily trying to "learn" this new and more fundamental language of knowledge!
The process lasted less than five seconds before Rolin felt his mental energy being rapidly depleted, like water being released from a dam, and he had to immediately disconnect.
The faint light on the stone slab quickly dimmed.
His face was pale, and his forehead was covered in cold sweat, but his eyes shone with an unprecedented light.
"How is it?" Duden, who had been standing by the side, asked hurriedly.
"There's been progress—" Rowling's voice was hoarse, filled with barely suppressed excitement and exhaustion.
"Although I still don't understand it, I think I've figured it out a little bit."
"This stone tablet is not inscribed in any language or runes that we know."
"It uses a logical or mathematical language—one that is closer to the fundamental rules of the world—to directly describe energy."
The essential structure and interaction principles of matter, space, and even information!
That geometric symbol might represent a fundamental axiom or definition!
Duden gasped, "Directly describing the fundamental rules of the world? Is that even possible?"
"Perhaps for the civilization that left this stone tablet." Roland looked at the stone tablet on the table, his gaze complex.
"We find it incredible, like ants can't comprehend the skyscrapers built by humans."
"But the very existence of this stone slab proves this possibility."
He rested for a while, regained some of his strength, and prepared to try again.
This time, he was more careful, guiding only a very small amount of spiritual energy and star power to try to trace another simple trajectory of light.
However, this time, the stone slab did not react at all.
It seems that only specific depiction sequences, energy combinations, and mental frequencies can trigger specific information fragments.
This is a lock, and the key is hidden in a maze made up of countless possible paths.
Each successful trigger may simply be due to accidentally stumbling upon the correct path.
Even so, this is an unprecedented possible path to supreme knowledge!
Luo Lin knew that he might have inadvertently stumbled upon an unimaginable treasure, and also taken on an incredibly heavy burden.
Deciphering this stone tablet may take years, decades, or even longer, requiring the wisdom of countless people and a continuous leap in one's own understanding of the world.
But its value is enough to drive any wizard mad.
Just as Rolin was engrossed in his initial exploration of the stele, the formal cooperation agreement between Shadowraven Tower and the Molten Empire was finally finalized and signed after intensive negotiations.
According to the agreement, the two parties will jointly form a joint exploration team, which plans to conduct the first large-scale joint exploration in a month on the entrance to the Hub-2 ruins deep in the Ash Plains, the coordinates of the Star Map Archive, and the suspected area of the lost maintenance unit.
Regarding the Shadow Raven Tower, Master Veranika will personally serve as the chief technical advisor, and Researcher Duden, Rolin, Ella, and Gorson are all included in the core member list.
On the Imperial side, Commander Hector will personally lead the team, with High Priest Moradin sending capable priests to join.
The agreement also clarifies that all discoveries from this joint exploration, including physical objects, data, and knowledge, will be jointly owned by both parties, with shared research rights.
Neither party may unilaterally conceal or undermine this agreement.
This means that Rowling will soon set foot on that burning wasteland again, and this time, his target is one of the core areas of the ancient observer network.
In his hand now lies a "Civilization Stele" that may hold the secrets of an even more ancient and fundamental civilization.